Transfer mechanism for wrapping machine



July 10, 1956 HQPTQN ET AL 2,753,974

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 22 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 N VENTORS at) #9 83 am/a4? July 10, 1956 A, HQPTON ETAL 2,753,974

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR$ KTT IYN Y July 10, 1956 HOPTQN ET AL 2,753,974

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Filed June 22, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 rNVENT WW5 United States Patent '0 2,753,974 TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR WRAPPING MACHINE Alan Hopton and Alexander Russell, Leeds, England, assignors to The Forgrove Machinery Company Limited, Leeds, Yorkshire, England, a company of Great Britain Application June 22, 1953, Serial No. 363,162 Claim priority, application Great Britain July 29, 1952 4 Claims. (Cl. 198-24) In United States application Serial No. 288,732/ 52 now Patent No. 2,683,520 we have described an automatic feed mechanism for feeding loose biscuits or the like to the intermittently moving feed conveyor of a wrapping machine, comprising a plurality of magazines, means for extracting at each machine cycle a batch of loose biscuits or the like from each magazine (the total number of biscuits in all the batches taken together being that required to fill a feed pocket of the conveyor) and means for thereafter transferring the batches into positions above successive feed pockets, each batch being brought to a position above a diiferent feed pocket, and depositing the batches of biscuits on edge in said feed pockets, the positions to which the batches are transferred being such that the batches are deposited in succession side by side in the feed pockets to fill them.

In the apparatus described in United States application No. 288,732/52 the magazines are inclined to the horizontal at a small angle, e. g. 15, a separator is provided for each magazine for lifting, at each machine cycle, a batch of biscuits from the lower end of the magazine into a transfer lever for transferring the batches into position above a feed pocket of the conveyor, and each magazine includes an intermittently operating belt for supporting the biscuits, placed on edge thereon, and feeding them forward onto the separator.

We have found that, with certain types of rough surfaced biscuits, there is a tendency for the top edge of I the leading biscuit in a magazine to fall forwards as the separator descends with the result that the belt feed by itself is not quite able to feed the biscuits forward squarely onto the separator.

With a view to obviating this disadvantage, the invention provides mechanism for supporting the biscuits while they are being fed by the belts onto the separators, comprising a biscuit separator bracket, extending transversely to the belts, and serving to support the batches of biscuits during the upward travel of the separators, a number of forked biscuit-support members, one for each magazine, the arms of each support member extending through the bracket to embrace the associated separator and support the leading biscuit in the associated magazine, and means for reciprocating the support members so that they move forwardly (i. e. with the biscuits) as the biscuits are fed onto the separators and thereafter move rearwardly again to support the next batches of biscuits.

Preferably the speed of reciprocation of the. support members is variable so that their forward movement is either slower or faster than the feed belts. Slower movement of the support members is generally advantageous as this assists in straightening up the biscuits asthey are fed on to the separators. Conveniently the support members derive movement from the belt feed movement.

One particular embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing the magazines, the separators and the biscuit-support mechanism,

2,753,914 Patented July 10, 1956 Fig. 2 is a view looking in the direction of the arrow A in Fig. 1, and 4 Fig. 3 is a section on the line IIIIII in Fig. 2.

Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the figures.

The automatic feed mechanism is generally of the character described in United States application No. 28 8,732/52, three magazines 10, 110, 210 being provided. These are inclined at about 15 to the horizontal, and extend transversely to the conveyor (not shown). In the present case the separators 11, 111 associated with the magazines 10, are arranged to extract batches consisting of three biscuits from the associated magazines, but the third separator 211 extracts but one biscuit at a time from its magazine 210 and is correspondingly narrower as shown in Fig. 2.

The magazines includefeed belts 12, 112, 212 on which the biscuits 13 are supported on edge as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and side rails (not shown) associated with the belts keep the biscuits under control as described in United States application No. 288,732/ 52. The belts are intermittently driven by pulleys 14, 114, 214 mounted on a common shaft 15. Fixed to the shaft 15 is a ratchet 16 and rotatably mounted on the shaft 15 is a bell crank, one arm 17 of which is periodically rocked to and fro by a cam-operated rod 18, as described in United States Patent application No. 288,732/52, and the other arm 19 of which actuates the biscuit-support members as later described. A pawl 20 is pivoted at 21 to the arm 17 and serves to impart feed movement to the ratchet 16 on counter-clockwise movement of the bell crank as seen in Fig. 1.

The biscuits are fed by the belts across a dead plate 22 and into position above the separators 11, 111, 211. A biscuit separating bracket 23 (Fig. 2) extends transversely to the magazines and is formed with flanges 24 projecting towards the magazines and serving as lateral guides for the biscuits as they are fed forward on to the separators. This bracket 23 serves-to support the biscuits as they are lifted by the separators 11, 111, 211 into the transfer levers, one of which is shown at 25 in Fig. 3. The transfer levers serve to transfer the batches of biscuits into position above successive feed pockets of the conveyor as fully described in United States Patent application No. 288,732/52.

A cam-operated rod 26 serves, as described in United States Patent Application No. 288,732/52, to move the separators between a bottom position, in which they are aligned with the dead plate 22, to the top position shown in Fig. 3. The separators are connected to the operating rod 26 by a transverse rod 27 and guide bars, one of which is shown at 28 in Figs. 1 and 2, on the ends of the rod 27 coact with slots 29 in the machine frame to guide the separators.

Thearm 19 of the bell crank has a radial slot 30 (Fig. 1). A stud 31 adjustably mounted in the slot 30 engages a block 32 which is free to slide in a radial slot 33 in a member 34 fixed by a bolt 35 to a shaft 36 mounted for sliding movement in bearings 37, 38 on themachine frame in a direction parallel to the feed belts. The belt feed rod 18 thus imparts reciprocating movement to the shaft 36, at a speed which may be varied by adjustment .of the stud 31 in the slot 30 in the arm 19. This adjustmentpermits the biscuit-support members, referred to below, to move either slower or faster than the feed belts. To one end of the-shaft 36 is fixed a bar 39 (Fig. 2), extending transversely to the feed belts and on the opposite side of the separating bracket 23. The other end of the bar 39 carries a roller 40 running in a guide groove 41 in the machine frame. Attached to the bar 39 are three forked biscuit-support members 42, 142, 242, the arms of which extend through slots in the separating bracket 23 and embrace the separators 11, 111, 211 (see Fig. 2). During the idle stroke of the pawl 20 (Fig. l), the biscuit-support members are moved towards the biscuits, i. e. to the right as seen in Fig. 2. During the feed stroke of the pawl, the support members are moved in the reverse direction and thus, support the portions of the leading biscuit on each belt which project beyond the associated separator as the biscuits are fed on to the separators. The arms of the support member 242 associated with the separator 211 which extracts only a single biscuit are correspondingly shorter than the arms of the other support members 42, 142 as shown in Fig. 2.

What we claim as our invention anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for transferring stacks of loose biscuits or the like from a magazine to feed pockets of an intermittently moving conveyor, the combination of a feed belt in the magazine adapted to carry biscuits stacked on edge on its upper run, said upper run running downwardly at a small angle to the horizontal, a fixed plate aligned with and adjacent to the lower end of the upper run of said feed belt, a separator adapted to reciprocate transversely to the upper run of the feed belt from a down position, in which it is level with and close to the fixed plate, to an up position, means for intermittently driving said feed belt to cause the same to feed batches of biscuits forward in succession over said fixed plate and on to said separator, a fixed U-shaped biscuit separator bracket surrounding the separator and adapted to embrace and support each batch of biscuits during the upward travel of said separator, a forked biscuit-support member having arms extending through slots in said bracket and embracing said separator, means for positively reciprocating said support member in a direction parallel to the upper run of the feed belt, said arms moving to position to support the leading biscuit on said feed belt during descent of said separator and thereafter returning as said biscuits are fed on to said separator, and transfer mechanism for receiving the batches of biscuits in succession from said separator in the up position thereof.

2. in apparatus for transferring stacks of loose biscuits or the like from a magazine to feed pockets of an intermittently moving conveyor, the combination of a feed belt in the magazine adapted to carry biscuits stacked on edge on its upper run, said upper run running downwardly at a small angle to the horizontal, a fixed plate aligned with and adjacent to the lower end of the upper run of said feed belt, a separator adapted to reciprocate transversely to the upper run of the feed belt from a down position, in which it is level with and close to the fixed plate, to an up position, mechanism for imparting intermittent forward movement to said feed belt to feed batches of biscuits in succession over said fixed plate and on to said separator, a biscuit separator bracket extending transversely to the upper run of said feed belt for supporting the batches of biscuits during the upward travel of said separator, a forked biscuit-support member having arms extending through slots in said bracket and embracing said separator, means actuated by said feed belt moving mechanism for reciprocating said support member in a direction parallel to the upper run of the feed belt so that the arms thereof move forwardly with the biscuits as the biscuits are fed on to the separator and thereafter move rearwardly to support the biscuits remaining on the feed belt during descent of the separator, and transfer mechanism for receiving the batches of biscuits in succession from said separator in the up position thereof.

3. In apparatus for transferring stacks of loose biscuits or the like from a magazine to feed pockets of an. intermittently moving conveyor, the combination of a feed belt in the magazine adapted to carry biscuits stacked on edge on its upper run, said upper run running downwardly at a small angle to the horizontal, a fixed plate aligned with and adjacent to the lower end of the upper run of said feed belt, a separator adapted to reciprocate transversely to the upper run of the feed belt from a down position, in which it is level with and close to the fixed plate, to an up position, mechanism for imparting intermittent forward movement to said feed belt to feed batches of biscuits in succession over said fixed plate and on to said separator, a biscuit separator bracket extending transversely to the upper run of said feed belt for supporting the batches of biscuits during the upward travel of said separator, a forked biscuit-support member having arms extending through slots in said bracket and embracing said separator, means actuated by said feed belt moving mechanism for reciprocating said support member in a direction parallel to the upper run of the feed belt so that the arms thereof move forwardly with the biscuits as the biscuits are fed on to the separator and thereafter move rearwardly to support the biscuits remaining on the feed belt during descent of the separator, said reciprocating means including a connection which is adjustable to vary the speed of reciprocation of said support member, and transfer mechanism for receiving the batches of biscuits in succession from said separator in the up position thereof.

4. In apparatus for transferring stacks of loose biscuits or the like from a magazine to feed pockets of an intermittently moving conveyor, the combination of a feed belt in the magazine adapted to carry biscuits stacked on edge on its upper run, said upper run running downwardly at a small angle to the horizontal, a fixed plate aligned with and adjacent to the lower end of the upper run of said feed belt, a separator adapted to reciprocate transversely to the upper run of the feed belt from a down position, in which it is level with and close to the fixed plate, to an up position, a bell crank, a camoperated mechanism for oscillating said bell crank, a pawl on one arm of said bell crank, a ratchet engageable by said pawl on oscillation of said bell crank to impart intermittent forward movement to said feed belt to feed batches of biscuits in succession over said fixed plate and on to said separator, a biscuit separator bracket extending transversely to the upper run of said feed belt for supporting the batches of biscuits during the upward travel of said separator, a forked biscuit-support member having arms extending through slots in said bracket and embracing said separator, said support member being mounted to reciprocate in a direction parallel to the upper run of the feed belt, a connection between the other arm of said bell crank and said support member for moving the arms of the support member to position to support the biscuits still on the feed belt during each idle stroke of said pawl and for returning said arms on the feed stroke of the pawl so that they move with the biscuits as the latter are fed on to the separator, and transfer mechanism for receiving the batches of biscuits in succession from said separator in the up position thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,818,496 Milmoe Aug. 11, 1931 2,315,670 Tascher et al. Apr. 6, 1943 2,513,662 McCullough July 4, 1950 2,576,366 Smith Nov. 27, 1951 2,614,679 Sandberg Oct. 21, 1952 

